TAMPA, Fla.—Freddy Garcia didn’t want this offseason to be a repeat of his previous one, when he had to wait until February to find a minor league deal and needed a strong spring training to make the Yankees' rotation.

After going 12-8 with a 3.62 ERA in 2011, no waiting was needed. And he didn’t have to take a minor league deal. Garcia re-upped with the Yankees during the winter meetings for $4 million, a nice increase over his $1.5 million salary in 2011.

Freddy Garcia won 12 games for the Yankees in 2011. (AP Photo)

"I did not want to go through that again. I signed early and enjoyed the offseason," Garcia said Wednesday morning before Yankees pitchers and catchers worked out at Steinbrenner Field.

But about a month after he signed, Garcia’s situation changed. The Yankees acquired two starters (Michael Pineda and Hiroki Kuroda) and Garcia’s spot in the rotation suddenly wasn’t secure. Even after the trade of A.J. Burnett, Garcia has to beat out Phil Hughes for the No. 5 job.

"If I pitch well (in spring), I will pitch," Garcia said.

The competition for the final spot in the rotation is about all the Yankees have to figure out in spring training. Their lineup is set, their bench is complete and the first four spots in the rotation are occupied by CC Sabathia, Ivan Nova, Pineda and Kuroda.

Garcia knows his fight for No. 5 will make him the center of a lot of attention in the coming weeks. "I don't worry about that," he said. "Spring training is the time to prepare for the season, no matter what is going on."

After all, he has his guaranteed contract. "Look at all the players who haven't signed or signed minor league deals," he said. "I've never seen so many minor league deals."